Who's the OC? Here's what positions Joe Judge and Matt Patricia will coach on the Patriots

The Patriots offensive coaching staff was gutted earlier this offseason when offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels took the head coaching job in Las Vegas. When he left he took along Patriots receivers coach Mick Lombardi, offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo and assistant quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree. On top of that, long-time running backs coach Ivan Fears retired.

When it comes to developing a young quarterback, continuity is usually key. With Mac Jones entering his second NFL season, a big concern for Patriots fans has been who will replace McDaniels and help the QB grow.

On Monday, we (sort of) received some answers.

Earlier this year:Bill Belichick: Joe Judge and Matt Patricia will coach offense. No answer on Malcolm Butler.

In the team's first media availability of the offseason, Joe Judge confirmed he would be working with Patriots quarterbacks this season and Matt Patricia confirmed he would be coaching the offensive line in New England.

“I’ll give you a direct answer right there, not to be evasive or anything: I am working with Mac along with some other people on the offense,” Judge said. “I work with all the skill groups on the offense. I’d say all of us are working collectively as a coaching unit to work with the entire offense. That’s the most direct and specific answer I can give you on that. In terms of who’s coaching each position, you’ll see me on the field with the quarterbacks.”

“I’ve been able to be there with the offensive guys, working with the offensive line and just helping those guys and work some technique and talk some basic fundamental stuff,” Patricia said. “Nothing heavy on that, just really Phase 2 conditioning, but really working with those guys up front.”

When it comes to running his offense and developing his young quarterback, Bill Belichick has taken an unconventional route by promoting two former NFL head coaches, neither of whom has much experience on the offensive side of the ball. And no one in Foxboro will say who will call offensive plays this fall.

If the plan works, Belichick will look like a genius. If it fails, it could have long-term ramifications on the Patriots organization. Both Judge and Patricia say their past experiences have prepared them for their new roles in New England.

How Judge is preparing to help Mac Jones

After Judge was let go after two years as the head coach of the New York Giants, it was expected he would come back to New England. He spent eight years in Foxboro as a gifted special-teams coordinator with one season as the team’s receivers coach. Seeing Judge coach quarterbacks, however, is a huge surprise.

In order to prepare for his new role, Judge said he reached out to several veteran quarterback coaches along with other offensive coaches this offseason. The conversation revolved around drills, philosophy and different schemes that they used. Judge also said he felt his two years as a head coach helped him prepare for this job.

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“It not only gives you more knowledge in every position, it gives you more understanding of how the pieces fit and how you have to work and be flexible with each position group to make those pieces fit,” Judge said. “I appreciate the work (Giants quarterback) Daniel (Jones) did for us when I was in New York. I really enjoyed all the time we got to work with him. As a head coach, you have a lot of interaction with your quarterback to make sure as they go into the game, they feel comfortable with the game plan and the game plan is playing toward their strengths and they go out there and play aggressive.”

Judge is also familiar with Mac Jones. He said he watched so much tape leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, that it was impossible to not notice the quarterback’s “accuracy, the presence in the pocket, and his decision making” while at Alabama. Judge also received an up-close look at Jones last summer when the Giants and Patriots held joint practices.

“I liked the way he handled the command of the huddle and the team last year when we practiced against him,” Judge said. “That was the thing that stood out to me. … I had the opportunity to listen to both huddles and when he stepped in the huddle you could really hear the command. You could see the players' eyes on him. … It was ‘OK, they’re going to be all right with this young guy.’”

Patricia returns to his roots

Patricia rejoined the Patriots organization last year as a "senior football advisor" after three years as the head coach of the Detroit Lions. His move to the offensive line is a minor surprise considering he worked on the defensive staff for 12 years in New England.

However, it’s not a shock. As he noted on Monday, Patricia started his coaching career working with the offensive line at Syracuse (2001-2003) and with the Patriots in 2004 and 2005. Patricia was mentored by longtime offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

“If you have an opportunity to spend time with Dante, you become a better coach,” Patricia said. “He’s a phenomenal, phenomenal coach, person to spend the first couple of years of my life in the NFL, working with him and the offensive line. … I was truly blessed. It’s been fun to do that and fun to kind of get back to my roots of how I started coaching.”

Patricia said he has Scarnecchia on speed dial. Like Judge, Patricia said his time as a head coach in Detroit helped him “learn and grow” as a coach. After working in a general role last season “doing whatever I could to help coach Belichick,” Patricia said he was happy “to focus on just a singular job” with the offensive line.

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As it pertains to Jones, Patricia said he was impressed with how the rookie quarterback handled the team’s offense last year.

“He’s a really, really bright kid,” Patricia said.” He picks up the offense very quickly. He’s got a great football mind. … It was pretty remarkable with our offensive system, cadences and the different communications, looks, formations and plays. For a young guy, he didn’t miss a beat. It was very, very impressive from that standpoint.”

Who’s the Patriots offensive coordinator?

It’s clear who the Patriots quarterback and offensive line coaches are this season, but we still don’t know who will be calling offensive plays. Neither Judge nor Patricia would say if it was them. The same went for tight ends coach Nick Caley.

Judge said that Belichick has not informed the staff who that will be.

“I’ll tell you directly and honestly — nothing has been declared, decided or voiced to me,” said Judge. “I know Matt’s going to be the other one who gets asked or Nick Caley. Right now, we’re just working. It’s mainly drills and skills. I do think it’s critical for every coach on offense to understand the game plan and be prepared as a play-caller. … In terms of who calls plays, that’s not the main focus of us right now as an offensive staff. When Coach wants us to declare a role like that, he’ll tell us.”

Added Patricia: “Really for me, I’m just focused on making sure whatever it is we’re doing on the field right now, I’ve got that handled and trying to help those guys be better players.”